Posted
by
timothyon Thursday January 08, 2009 @03:40PM
from the want-it-already dept.

El Lobo writes "Asus' success with its Eee line of netbooks might have come as a surprise, but the company is now determined to expand the Eee brand into every possible niche and form factor. Case in point: the insanely cool Eee Keyboard, which will surely bring a smile on the faces of those who remember the glory days of the home computer. Described as a fully functional PC with inset Qwerty key arrangement, the keyboard has a 5in touch screen that displays a suite of bespoke media controls or a Windows desktop."

I don't remember a straight 600 model, just 400 and 800 in the non XL/XE models. I had a 600XL (which I upgraded the ram in) then a 130XE (and someone gave me a defunct 800XL and several working peripherals), when I start missing them I go find an emulator and play awhile until the urge passes.

If you boot with the TV connected and nothing else, it should just work. If you want both at once, you have to set it up just like a dual head configuration. When I did this, that required some involved edits to the xorg.conf. But apparently now you can just do it with nvidia-settings.

It's well worth doing. Movies are an ideal application, and emulators are great too.

>>>You're thinking of the Atari Vic-20. All those models you named were Commodore models.

I always find it amusing when somebody tries to correct somebody else, but fraks it up. Atari VIC-20. Ha! The original poster was correct with his listing of Atari computers. The key models (not an exhaustive list) from that era were:

Commodore PET, VIC-20, 64, and Amiga (1000 was the first, followed by 500 and 2000)Atari 400, 800, 400XL, 800XL, and the ST. Also the 2600, 5200, and 7800 which were videogame consoles.Apple II, IIc, IIe, and MacintoshIBM PC, XT, PCjr, and PS/2

It's a shame that Atari and Commodore are no longer around. It was fun watching all the various formats compete with one another for dominance. Commodore's Amiga line could do things neither Macintosh nor the PCs can do, even today.

No of course not. Today's PCs and Macs can do Video Toaster like effects. Anyway....

The original Commodore Amiga 1000 could do preemptive multitasking with only 256 kilobytes of RAM. It was and still is very efficient with memory.

It is not limited to just one screen like a Mac or PC. The Amiga can do multiple screens with independent resolutions. So for example you could have a 720x480 screen for a DVD movie, a 320x200 screen to emulate an old Super Nintendo console, and a 1600x1200 screen for surfing the web. Being able to give each program its own full screen instead of being confined to windows is a much better computing environment.

Arguably you can have different fullscreen resolutions on DOS/Windows/Linux too. What the Amiga had over them was the ability to show multiple screens at the same time, but since only the horizontal resolution could change you would not be able to use this for 320x200 and 720x480.

1440x480 and 720x480 works, 640x200 and 320x200 works, but not 320x480 and 320x200.

This limitation comes from CRT monitors. They have to resynch to change vertical resolution, this because images are drawn from top to bottom in a series of lines going from left to right. The end of a line is technically ended by a synch signal, so to change vertical resolution (the amount of lines) you have to change this synch signal - which cause the monitor to go 'boink' as it resynchs to the new synch signal.

Horizontal resolution is, OTOH, simply a product of how fast the Amiga can change its color output - which tops out at something like 1280 pixels.

You could certainly mix and match screens at different horizontal and vertical resolutions. The key to understand this was realizing that Amiga Amiga video was always based on a ~35ns pixel clock, and could deliver pixels of one, two, or four clocks per pixel.. thus your (nominally) 1280, 640, or 320 pixels per scanline (a bit more using the overscan region of the screen).

Vertical resolution was always the same, 480 lines (NTSC, no overscan... more in PAL, naturally). However, you could set up a 240 line mo

The last time I saw an Amiga in production usage was 2002, it was running Video Toaster for live production CG -- broadcast graphics, titles, etc.

I scratched my head, but I was told that it was one of the only cost-effective products out there for low-budget productions. The few hardware CGs I used at the time I found to be extremely confining, and I ended up liking Video Toaster more.

Seriously unless you plan on using this thing on the go there's no reason to rely on a battery. And it's not much of a system for on the go computing.

The only reason I don't like laptops is because if the screen goes out you're screwed. My wife's laptop is perfectly functional minus the screen. Fortunatly it has a TV out so it's used to watch Netflix on the TV. This keyboard PC is something that for the right price may be worth getting to replace the old and busted laptop to serve that purpose and be useful for other things as well.

I don't really want to pay $99 for a dedicated Netflix box but if it could be used as a regular PC as well then that's more reasonable.

Well, I have a few laptops like that where I've removed the LCD. Bingo: keyboard computer. I mainly use them as printer servers and the like; you just lug a small LCD panel over when you need a screen, or use VNC.

In any case, if it's the backlight gone, chances are its the inverter board. This provides voltage to the LCD panel, but usually sits at the top edge of the keyboard part. Its usually integrated on a small board about the size of an old fashioned memory SIMM that usually has a few model spe

A device that requires a power outlet near the couch is pretty useful. If you can disconnect it to go wander, that's fine too. I know lots of people who use their laptop whilst its plugged in. The 'mobile' factor is that you can take it where you want, not that it can be run without a plug.

His laptop might well be being used as a netflix box, its quiet and cheap after all, if you had a half-bust laptop, it'd be perfect for such a task.

This is comparable to a mini pc tucked under the TV with a wireless keyboard and/or a harmony control. The battery life and software UI on the touchpad will be critical to the success of this product.

My thoughts exactly.

Though I do like the idea of separating the control UI display from the media display. Somehow, "on screen" just looks clunky to me in a media room. With the control having an independent display, and being an independent computer in it's own right (I've often thought of using a laptop,

Kind of like the EEE itself, actually. You've been able to get computers built into keyboards from specialist suppliers for ages now(not to mention the pantheon of fondly-remembered early systems in the form factor) but they aren't inexpensive and tend toward slightly dull, legacy heavy designs, which is appropriate given the usual customers for such things; but not really exciting.

This little guy, if it ever makes it to market, should be great fun to play around with(particularly if the secondary screen widget is reasonably open to hackers and third party devs). Good looking, probably fairly cheap, no doubt fairly basic specs; but enough for many purposes. I like it.

It doesn't look like much use as a laptop due to the tiny screen in an awkward place and lack of cover for the keyboard. A three hour battery life means it's not much use as a wireless keyboard. I suppose as a desktop PC it would be OK, but then why have the tiny additional screen and battery? They just make it larger and more expensive than it needs to be. Ditch the screen and battery and it might make for a cheap, compact desktop PC, but as it is I just don't see the point. On the other hand there are plenty of things I don't see the point of that are hugely popular, so what do I know?

The additional screen could have similar uses as the GBA screens in some GameCube games (e.g. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures) or the touch screen on a DS. The battery is just a built-in UPS.

A "universal remote control" app that runs on the little screen could be fun. Hold it end-on, tell the screen display to rotate 90 degrees, put little stickers over the columns of keys for your fifty favourite tv channels...

I'm guessing that IR is a no(though they really should consider it); but with the row of USB ports on the back of the case, right were they would point at the TV while in use, a little low profile IR plug would be just the thing.

You never used a C64 with a 1541 drive did you?The old C64 used a serial version of the IEE-488 bus to connect drives and printers. It allowed dasy chaining of one drive to another and usually ended with a printer if you had one.

The apple disc controller was for discs only. My//c had an internal 5.25, and an external 5.25, and chained through that was an external 3.5". (800k) It had a chain-through as well and I could have added another I think.

Yep. Public school attendee cira 87-99 and I can definitely say that we had tons of those old Apple IIe's in the classroom when I was in middle school. That was mostly the individual classrooms though. The "computer lab" where they taught typing had IBM PC's (I think they were old XT models though - the monitor and computer was built together as one unit).

A few other places had IBM's too. I had an "Industrial Technology" class where we actually had a robotic arm controller to play with. Those were all

We unfortunately had Tandy TRS-80 (trash 80) model IIIs (and couple of model 1s) and I think we eventually got two model 4s in the early mid 80s, I got to play with some apple II/II Plus and a few IIIs I think during the computer camp at the local college I think it was in 82 (color and so much better graphics) but our high school was supplied by the local radio shack I guess. Right after computer camp I asked for a computer and got a 600XL for Christmas and that sucker still worked until I presented it to

The computer packs the usual Intel Atom internals, and puts them in a thin metal case with a built-in keyboard with Apple-style individually inset keys...

So now you have a lousy keyboard you can't replace with a decent one. It's bad enough on my laptop, but at least there's an excuse for lowering the form factor of the keys way too far... here, there's simply no logical reason for it other than style.

Yep, it's Apple style all right. If it doesn't come with OS X, why put up with the abuse?

actualy there is a logical reason other thanstyle for a product like this.. given it's size and the goal of being light weight.. by spacing the keys out and allowing the upper frame to be solid accross the mid secion of the device allows the surface to he structural - there for allowing the bottom of it to be thiner and allowing the whole device to be thinner as you don't have to make room under the keyboard for support and you don't need heavy materials around the edges for support - caluse as soon as it f

Ever use a really good keyboard, one with microswitch keys? The frame the keys are set in is totally solid. You can't make them all that thin, but this thing has even less reason for thinness than a laptop. The only reason to make it thin is style, and compromising ergonomics for style is exactly the problem I'm talking about.

i agree.. but if the released this - and it was the size and weight of a c64 they would only sell a handfull where as going thin and lite they will sell alot more - its a function of trying to make something that fills the void they are wanting to fill.. if being small and lite is what they need then they will do it that way.. i was just noting that using the "apple" style keyboard can be explained in a way to make it sturdy not just to look stylish.

Indeed. They're making a product to sell to people who value style over everything, so of course it's going to ignore everything but style. I understand why channeling Jobs is profitable, I just don't give a damn for the products that result.

And it's not the details of the design. Apple's laptop keyboards without that *specific* design were just as painful, even if they were fractionally thicker.

There are thin keyboards that are far superior. They (and Apple) need to get some IBM Thinkpad DNA in their produ

Sure you can, it has USB ports. Cue the dueling typists. Heck, the built-in keyboard is probably a USB device internally so you could take it apart and have some nice form-factor circuit boards to build a Model-M computer if you wanted. I know you do:)

Seriously though, at least this makes more sense to me than the current iMac. I don't mind throwing out a keyboard when I need to get a new computer, but throwing out a monitor is ridiculous. And while I don't love the chicklet keyboard, if the touchpad works

> I can't work intensively on my laptop for more than 10 or 15 minutes without significant pain.

You're doing it wrong.

Actually individually inset keys, if done right, are ergonomically better. They also confer several advantages if you're basically willing to give up the EXPERIENCE of a keyboard with a huge travel on the keys - keys are spaced better, so it's easier to hit the key you want, and they're all at the same height, on a flat base, meaning you're basically not lifting your wrists and therefore

You shouldn't be resting any part of your hand on them. If you can't hold your hand level in the plane of the keyboard using your arm muscles, without straining them, you need to get more exercise. And no, you're not "still pumped from using the mouse".

If you're suffering from carpal tunnel [...]

No, I have ulnar nerve damage. There are many kinds of RSI, CTS is only one of them... and other forms of RSI are often misdiagnosed at CTS.

I did. I'm now contemplating a wireless eee cluster. Imagine, a beowulf cluster of tiny computers interconnected via bluetooth or 802.11. I'll get an eeePC, an eeeKeyboard, an eeeMouse, an eeeMonitor, maybe even an eeePrinter, and for the hour of battery life that I get out of them, I'll have a mobile cloud with the processing power of a 4-core workstation powered by Atom! Well, the Intel Atom, not U-238. But still, that's pretty cool!

The first computer that come to my mind seeing that photos was the ZX Spectrum, the keys are similar, and the concept (minus the actual machine specs, power source and the side touchscreen) are somewhat similar too.
Too bad no movie (that i remember, at least) used that kind of computers with some cosmetics to represent the computers of the future... could had a major hit in accuracy.

I already own a computer of a similar form factor. It's kitted out with a state of the art CMOS 6502 processor running at 2 MHz and a unified graphics architecture with 32K of main memory and 32K of PROM based storeage (UV erasable in about 20 minutes or so). Not only that, but it has every expansion port you might expect: parallel, TTL, composite and UHF video, RS-423, analogue, the CPU bus (just for good measure), econet (TM) networking and the innovative Tube(r) interface. Not only that but it also comes with builtin support for both audio tape and *double sided* 5.25 inch floppy disks.

Programs are available for download every night, for free, over the air with a compatible teletext input interface.

Frankly, there's no contest.

Funny anecdote: I remember reading a news story about a burglary at a school which had recently upgraded to the new, shiny Archimedes, replacing their old BBCs. The theives broke in and stole all the keyboards, not realising that the computer was now in a separate box.

I can only imagine the confusion this will bring to non-Asus tech support around the world:Tech: How can I help you today, ma'am?
Little Old Lady: Well, I haven't been able to print my letter using the printer I purchased from you, although I can print other documents just fine. I turned my keyboard off and then back on, just like my son taught me...
Tech: You mean your computer, ma'am? You turned your computer off and then back on?
Little Old Lady: Isn't that what I said?! Well, anyways, I'm looking but I can't seem to find my letter, now.
Tech: Ma'am can you please describe what the screen looks like?
Little Old Lady: Which one? There's a copy of the letter that I haven't been able to print on the keyboard right now. And there's just a blank document open on the monitor.
Tech: There's a copy on the keyboard but you haven't been able to print it?!! How did it get onto the keyboard, ma'am?
etc...

Ok, it looks hella cool, and as someone who owned a Tandy CoCo and a Commodore 64 the retro factor is good fun. But what is it for?

Is it intended as a glorious remote control? If so what the heck are we paying a Windows license fee for? Is it a computer? Then what are we paying for wireless hdmi for again? With that dinky screen or a TV across the room general purpose computing will be hard. A media center? Doing video decode on an Atom will be pain, literally as the damned thing will burn yer nuts.

Is it intended as a glorious remote control? If so what the heck are we paying a Windows license fee for? Is it a computer? Then what are we paying for wireless hdmi for again? With that dinky screen or a TV across the room general purpose computing will be hard.

The display across the room is a 1080p HDTV with a 40" - 75" screen.

The audio is 5.1 surround at 50 - 150 watts per channel.

The keyboard-PC can't store much of anything, but you can shop Amazon.com. do the IM video chat thing, stream radio from L

> The display across the room is a 1080p HDTV with a 40" - 75" screen.

Yea and if you generate much 1080p video on that little thing you won't have nuts. And you still will have problems reading text from across the room, even with a 75" screen.

> The keyboard-PC can't store much of anything, but you can shop Amazon.com. do the IM video chat thing,> stream radio from Live365 or Netflix video, and embarass your kids with the baby photos you slip into> your homemade USB slide-shows. just as grandad

This brings up fond memories of back when the keyboard WAS the computer. I remember being a REALLY young kid (probably 7 or 8), and seeing a regular IBM/PC keyboard in the store for $35. Since the only computers I'd ever seen back then were Commodores, TI-99/4a's, Apple's, and Tandys, I perceived this as a great deal since I thought that that keyboard was a whole computer. I remember begging my mom to buy it for me since I wanted a computer so bad and it was only $35. Thankfully, she didn't get it. Man I'd have been disappointed if I'd have gotten that thing home and tried to connect it to a TV:).

The best and the worst keyboards I ever used were both around that time. The PCjr's chicklets were the worst. The best was on an HP 9840 terminal. These days, I'm using a NeXT ADB keyboard, which is my all-time favorite for key layout, and second best for quality of the keyswitches.

One of these years, I'm going to see how much of a market there is for the ultimate keyboard: ebony keys, switches that will last for decades, proper steel springs...

I second the HP terminal keyboard as one of the best ever. I visited an HP salesman at the time when I had a CoCo II and that thing was was fantastic. The keyboard of the Coco II was very good for it's time as well. What I miss is that back then you had to hit the key just right for it to register. I am using a spongy Dell keyboard right now. And when I had to capitalize the W two sentences back my hand shifted a bit and I got 'QW' instead of just W. There was no way back then to hit a key on the side and h

Meh. Surely you don't mean the original PET 2001, with the cheap-calculator-keypad-on-growth-hormones keyboard? I might agree with your comment if you're talking about the -N versions or the 4000 family.

And Apple? Yeah, good keyboards. Outrageously expensive though.

BTW, I don't know where you came up with $200. In the words of Wikipedia, [Citation Needed].

My actual purchase was a TRS-80. Not a "Model I"; this was when there was only one model, thank you. The keyboard on that? Mushy touch, good keythrow... a

If this is intended to control a media center, why does it force the user to get up and to the screen give the media center input?

Wouldn't it be better if the media center itself were a plain, small and silent box (like the Apple TV) to which this neat keyboard could be connected wirelessly? The screen on it would be ideal for browsing through a music collection on the network, when you're in no mood to fire up the big screen in the living room. Communication between the keyboard and the box with the proc

... then you should know that it comes with Ultra-Wideband Wireless HDMI buit-in. Plug in a small box at the back of your TV, and connect to it wirelessly, and send the display signal over the airwaves. It comes with the usual wireless options and ports as well, of course.

Because very few people ever used a Sun keyboard. Other IBM keyboards from ancient days use the current setup. For evil fun, use rubbing alcohol on a Sun keyboard intended for a newbie, and watch the confusion as attempts to stop a program become CcCcCc.

... why is it OK to just quote the top paragraph from the source article?

"Asus' success with its Eee line of netbooks might have come as a surprise, but the company is now determined to expand the Eee brand into every possible niche and form factor. Case in point: the insanely cool Eee Keyboard, which will surely bring a smile on the faces of those who remember the glory days of the home computer." is lifted directly from the article linked in the story.

Let me see if I got this straight: this box has no DVD drive or large hard drive, so the "killer" app for this toy is to stream video over wireless to the keyboard, decode it, then stream it again to another box connected to your television??? I'm no system engineer, but wouldn't it make a lot more sense to put all the brains in the box connected to the television (and the power outlet), and just use a cheap remote control (with much better battery life) to control it?

Or maybe you could use it to play games on... in which case wouldn't you be better served by any of the current game consoles equipped with a wireless controller? One more thing... if you've got a built-in wireless HDMI for streaming video to a largescreen TV... what the fsck do you need a crappy 5" LCD screen for??? Sure, this is a cute toy, but what does it enable the average user to actually do better than what they are using now?

I'd be guessing its to be used as a Sideshow device. Would be more useful if the OS on the computer supported it (it doesn't), but if you used the keyboard with a real computer when you're at your desk, you could use the the LCD screen to view extra info, which is pretty cool.